King of France from 1774 to 1792, Louis XVI was ill equipped as a ruler, and was unprepared for the social and political conflict brewing in France at the time. Despite his public acceptance of the revolution, Louis ignored reactionary plotting by the queen, Marie-Antoinette, and his court. In October of 1789 a riot broke out, the crowd marching on Versailles. The royal family was forced to return to Paris, where they were confined in the Tuileries palace. The family attempted to flee the country in disguise but were seized at Varennes. Louis was forced to accept the constitution of 1791, which limited his power. Louis pled with Austria and Prussia for help, which resulted in a threat to destroy Paris if the royal family was harmed. The threat infuriated powers in Paris and the family was imprisoned. Louis was later tried and, with his wife, faced the guillotine in 1793.
